Isiah Thomas' job as coach of the hapless Knicks may not be in jeopardy, even if Donnie Walsh takes over as the team's head of basketball operations at the end of the season.

The New York Daily News, citing an unnamed source, reported Thursday that owner James Dolan prefers to keep Thomas on the sideline, though he won't stop his next executive from making a change.

"There isn't a basketball executive alive who would keep Isiah as head coach, but Jim is telling whoever he interviews, 'I would prefer to keep Isiah but you do what you have to do,'" the source close to Dolan told the Daily News. "If Isiah isn't the coach, Jim still wants him to stay in the organization in some capacity."

Walsh, who announced earlier this week that he would be leaving the Indiana Pacers after 24 seasons with the organization, is expected to sign a three-year, $15 million contract with New York, according to ESPN.

Earlier this week, Knicks spokesman Jonathan Supranowitz told The Associated Press that the team would not comment on any potential deal with Walsh.

Thomas also wouldn't comment on Walsh possibly joining the Knicks, but he did praise his former Pacers boss.

"He's had a great career, he's one of the best who's ever done it," Thomas said before the Knicks lost to New Jersey to fall to 19-51 on the season. "I wish him great success and he's someone that I respect tremendously. He gave me my first coaching job and I truly do like him as a person and he's done a lot for the game."

Walsh hired Thomas to coach the Pacers in 2000. Larry Bird, Indiana's team president, fired Thomas in 2003.

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